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SB 785

Opt-In to Student Health.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Woodson Bradley and 3 co-sponsors

The bill allows health care screenings in public schools (with parental notice of services and results) while permitting screenings without consent, and requires annual parent noti

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · SB 785

Summary of North Carolina SB 785 (Session 2025) – Opt-In to Student Health

This summary outlines the bill’s purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and notable procedural/timeline details. It reflects the text as filed on April 21, 2026.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to clarify and modify requirements related to health screenings and health-related communications in public schools.
  • It emphasizes parental notice and involvement, and introduces provisions around opt-in/consent for certain health-related services and screenings.

Key provisions

Section 1: Updated notification requirements (G.S. 115C-76.45(a) as amended)

The governing body of each public school unit must adopt procedures to notify parents about:
1. At the start of each school year:
- The health care services offered at the student’s school.
- The means for the parent to provide consent for any specific service.
- Note: A parent’s consent to a health care service does not waive rights to access educational/health records or to be notified of changes in services or monitoring. A health care service, as defined here, does not include a health care screening.
2. At the start of each school year:
- Procedures for exercising parental remedies provided by G.S. 115C-76.60.
3. For kindergarten through third grade:
- A copy of any student well-being questionnaire or health screening form and the means for parental consent to use the form for their child.
4. Prior to or contemporaneous with changes in services or monitoring related to a student’s health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe environment.
5. Prior to changes in the name or pronoun used for a student in school records or by school personnel.
6. Notice of health care screenings as provided in G.S. 115C-76.46.

Section 2: Health care screenings (New G.S. 115C-76.46)

  • Defines health care screenings to include:
    1. Vision screening
    2. Hearing screening
    3. Dental screening
    4. Developmental screening for cognition, language, and motor function (as conducted under G.S. 115C-83.5(a))
  • Parental consent:
    • A public school unit may conduct a health care screening without parental consent.
    • However, it must provide parental notice at:
    • The beginning of the school year listing all screenings to be conducted.
    • The results of those screenings for the child.

Section 3: Funding

  • Appropriates $25,000 in recurring General Fund dollars for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the Department of Public Instruction.
  • Purpose: to develop an awareness campaign and canvassing initiative aimed at addressing declines in student health and parental awareness of student health options.

Section 4: Effective date

  • The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Who/what is affected

  • Public school units (districts, charter schools treated as public school units, and other local education agencies under NC law).
  • Students in grades K-12 for notice and consent purposes; with particular emphasis on early elementary (K–3) regarding well-being questionnaires and screening forms.
  • Parents/guardians, who must be notified and provided avenues for consent and remedies.
  • The Department of Public Instruction (DPI), which will implement the awareness campaign funded by the new appropriation.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.
  • School units must establish notification procedures each school year and update them as changes occur.
  • The bill allows screenings to occur without parental consent, but mandates notification of screenings and disclosure of results to parents.
  • DPI will be charged with a targeted awareness campaign starting in the 2026-2027 year, funded at $25,000 recurring.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increased transparency for parents regarding health services and screenings offered at schools.
  • Greater emphasis on parental awareness and involvement in health-related decisions.
  • The opt-in/consent framework for specific services remains, but screenings may proceed without consent while ensuring parental notice of screenings and results.
  • Schools must manage changes in student information (names/pronouns) with parent notice requirements.
  • Implementation will require administrative capacity for notices, consent tracking, and annual updates to procedures.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law highlights or summarize potential fiscal and administrative implications in more depth.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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